QA EXAM 1 Flashcards
two types of samples, and they are both
homogeneous and heterogeneous, both random, will divide total area into grid and assign numbers that can be chosen at random
homogeneous material sample
(speckled) x number of randomly selected samples from total available area
heterogeneous material sample
(blobs) randomly selected but comprise a representative area of each part
concentration
quantity of solute in a given volume (or mass) of solvent or solution
molarity (M)
number of moles of solute per 1 L of solution
molality (m)
number of moles of solute per 1 kg of solvent
why would molality (m) (moles/kg) be better sometimes?
mass does not change, so it is valuable to use when temperature or volume change could occur
why would molarity (M) (moles/L) be better sometimes?
better for precise volumes of solutions, and is particularly useful in reaction stoichiometry and lab settings where solutions are prepared and measured volumetrically, providing a practical measurement
percent composition
the ratio of the amount of each element to the total amount of individual elements present in the compound multiplied by 100
weight % = (mass of solute/mass of solution) x 100%
volume % = (volume of solute/volume of solution) x 100%
(ppm and ppb)
ppm
g of solute/10e6 g of solution
unitless quantity
ppb
g of solute/10e9 g of solution
unitless quantity
molarity to % comp
% comp = (molarity x molar mass of solute)/(molar mass of solution) x 100%
molarity to ppm or ppb
ppm = Molarity × Molar mass of solute × 10e6
ppb = Molarity × Molar mass of solute × 10e9
molarity
M = n/V
sig figs (addition and subtraction)
least decimal places
sig figs (multiplication and division)
least sig figs
fundamental limitations (uncertainties in measurements)
physical and philosophical, theoretical principles and universal constraints like laws
practical limitations (uncertainties in measurements)
imperfect instrumentation (electrical noise), measured object is a dynamic system (solvent evaporation), human factor (imperfect)
ideal (perfect) measurement
no such thing, there is always error, experimental error, in every measurement
systematic (determinate) error
reproducible error due to a flaw in the design of an experiment or imperfections of the equipment
it can be discovered and (in favorable cases) corrected
examples: poor instrument calibration, inadequate standards
random (indeterminate) error
irreproducible error; arises from the effects of uncontrolled (and often uncontrollable) variable in the measurements
it cannot be corrected; must be dealt with using statistics
examples: electrical noise in instrument, human factors
how can systematic (determinate) errors be reduced?
improving experimental techniques, selecting better instruments and removing personal bias as far as possible
how can random (indeterminate) errors be reduced?
repeated measurements, using a large sample, controlling extraneous variables
standard deviation
measures how closely the data points are clustered around the mean
describes precision, NOT accuracy